Gauge rod



March 4, 1930; M. J. KlST 1,749,489

GAUGE HOD Filed April 18, 1929 4 I I 5 ail/[III]! 1 a W Y 4 W a track.

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 MICHAEL J. KIST, 0F J'OHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA GAUGEROD Application filed April 18,

This invention relates to gauge rods and more particularly to trackgauge rods of the type having relatively adjustable jaws or clips toengage over the flanges of track rails, and has for its object theprovision of a novel adjustable jaw structure and novelmeans for lockingsaid jaw in adjusted position.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation showing the gauge rod of thisinvention positioned on the rails of Figure 2 is a plan view of thegauge rod.

Figure 3 is aside elevation, partly broken away, of the removable jaw.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the rem0vable jaw.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the nut. Figure 6 is a perspectiveview of the lock- Referring more particularly to the drawings, thenumeral 2 designates the tensioning rod portion of the gauge rod whichhas an integral fixed j aw 3 at one end for engagement over the outsideflange 4 of one of the track rails 5. The other end of the rod 2 isthreaded at 6. A movable jaw 7 fits over the threaded end 6 of the rod,and a nut 8 is.

threaded on the threaded end 6 of the rod in' order to force the movablejaw 7 over the outside flange 9 of the other rail 10 of the track.

The movable jaw 7 is composed of a U-shaped sleeve portion 12 adapted topartially surround the rod 2 and has rail bearing surfaces 13 extendinglaterally from opposite sides thereof adapted to engage the bottom ofthe rail. The outer end of the jaw 7 is provided with an overhangingmember 14 adapted to engage the upper surface of the rail flange and isconnected to the sleeve portion 12 by a wall 15. An opening 16 isprovided in the wall 15 to receive the rod 2.

The outer end face of the jaw 7 is flat and extends in avertical planewhen the jaw is in operative position so as to form a. bearing for thenut 8. s

v The inner face of the nut is provided with diametrically oppositegrooves or slots 17 and the flat vertical outer end face of the movablejaw 7 is provided with a plurality 1929. Serial n. 356,169.

of slots 18 of the same width as the slots 17. When the nut 8 isrotated, the slots 17 are adapted to be alined with the slots 18 toreceive a locking pin or key 19.

The back walls of the slots 18 are inclined inwardly adjacent the upperends of said slots to form a deepened portion or pocket 20.

The pins or keys 19 are provided with a chamfered lower end19 tofacilitate starting the pins, and their one side face is proto I videdwith a beveled projection 21 terminating at itsupper end in a squareshoulder 22.

In operation, when the jaw 7 has been forced into engagement by the nut8, the nut will be positioned so thatone of the slots 17 is in alinementwith one of the slots 18, and the pin or key 19 will be positioned inthe alined slots with the projection 21 facing the ,jaw 7. The key orpin will then be forced into the slots until the projection 21 entersthe pocket 20 of the slot 18 whereby the nut will be locked againstrotation and the key or pin will be locked against displacement. Whenthe key or pin 19 is forced into the 'alined slots the beveledprojection will engage the wall 15 of the jaw 7 and serve as awedge toforce the pin to flex until the projection 19 enters the pocket 20.

While I have shown one specific embodiment of my invention it will beunderstood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since variousmodifications may bemade without departing from the scope of myinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a gauge rod device, the combination of a rod member havinga fixed jaw at one end and having its other end threaded, a movable jawmounted on said rod and in opposite relation with respect to the fixedjaw, said jaw having a substantially vertical outer end face, a nutthreaded on said rod and adapted to contact with said outer end face ofsaid movable jaw to move said jaw toward said fixed jaw to engage theflange of a track rail,

adapted to be mounted in said alined recesses to look said nut againstrotation.

2. In a gauge rod device, the combination with a rod member having afixed jaw at one end and having its other end threaded, a movable jawmounted on said rod and in opposite relation with respect to the fixedjaw, said jaw having a substantially vertical outer end face, a nutthreaded on said rod and'adapted 140 to contact with said outer end faceof said movable jawto move said jaw toward said fixed jaw to engage theflange ofa track rail, said outer endface of said movable jaw and theinner face of said nut being provided With I recesses adapted to bebrought intoalinement 4,5 my hand.

by the rotation'of said nut, the recesses in said outer end face of saidmovable jawhav- V ing their upper portions formed materially deeper thantheir lower portions so as to form pockets, and at least one locking pinhaving a projecting lug on one face, said pin being adapted to be forcedinto said alined recesses so. that said lug enters said pocket therebylocking said nut and jaw against relative movement and locking said pinagainst displacement.

3. In a gauge rod device, the combination of a rod member having athreaded end, a movable jaw mounted on said rod, said jaw having asubstantially vertical outer end face, a nut threaded onsaid rod andadapted to contact with said outer end face of said movable jaw to movesaid jaw along said rod so as to engage the flange of a track rail, saidouter end face of said movable'jaw and the inner face of said nut beingprovided with recesses adapted to be brought into alinement by therotation of said nut, and a locking pin adapted to be mounted in saidalined recesses 40 to lock said nut against rotation, said pin having aWedge-shaped projection on its one face which projection is adapted toenter said recess to lock said pin against displacement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set MICHAEL J. KIST.

